Morning journal and courier., 1887-06-24
The ThiaflR.

To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
Some one in the Office of the New York
Times has lately been reading about the
Thistle" and her performance is badly
frightened and editorially writes at the close
of a sentence in yesterdays issue
'fthe chances of the ClYde's boat taking home
the cup are great"
This choice fragment of news will make
agreeable reading to the English both at home
and in this country. They are recommended
to get all the satisfaction out of it that they
can. 1t will also cause exultation among the
remaining adherents of type of yacht al
ready in process of abandonment in the land
of it's birth. This same 'sThistle' proves
the statement. The very first step away
from the typical British cutter and in the
direction Of the American sloop produces
craft and reveals yacht capable of out
sailing the ''Irex" one whole knot per hour
ssIrex" who but yesterday was considered the
British cutter and with whose coming over
here in search of the ''cup" we were repeat
edly threatened. The British now can ses
for themselves what was plain enough to us
all the time just what chance
for success the ttIrex'' would have
had. If the five feet beam
on the Thistle with other details taken from
our American sloop proves of such value at
the very first trial, even slow going, conserv-
ative John Bull cannot fail to recognize the
point gained or miss the opportunity of
in saying that more lank cutters of the
Trox k,-,o ,o,J1 1>o b,,;1E I,- -
yachting circles in England.
The extra beam, with accompanying initial
stability and power to stand up and carry
greatly enlarged sail area, must increase
driving power with corresponding speed, and
therefore it is not surprising that the slug
gish British cutters of existing type prove no
match for the improved British cutter. We
need not be too modest, but boldly say the
Americanized British cutter. This statement
may bring out howl from some cutter ia
natics, but such noise cannot alter facts;
and, moreover, they will do well to be mod
crate and to keep themselves we'll in hand,
because other and still further continued
imitation of the AmericanPuritan-M May
flower Volunteer -centerboard sloop is inevi-
table. Such must be the case if future inter-
national races are to become more interest
ing than the usual "procession," after the
excitement of getting away with fair start
is once made.
To eondense the matter into a sentence
whose truth it is believed that coming events
will soon prove, it is asserted that, other
things being equal (and we may rely on Mr..
Burgess to look out for thaD, the craft with
stationary, fixed keel never can, nor ought to
expect to sail as fast as one capable of low
ering keel when needed, and of taking it
up and away altogether when it becomes a
hindrance.
The Times goes on to say that the '' Puri-
tan " beat the 'Genesta" " only one minute
thirty-nine seconds over forty mile course,
and reasons Dy that complete nonsequitur
by failing to recall the conditions of the same
victory.
Puritan had squeezed long way ahead
and far up to windward of Genesta when a
sudden shift of wind, not uncommon in
yacht races, changed this hard earned ad-
vantage into fearful detriment, reversing the
position and leaving Genesta dreadfully
ahead as well as to windward on the home
stretch. 1t will be remembered that in spite
of this unfair interference of the elements
Genesta did not win the race, and those who
choose may guess what the legitimate figures
ought to have been.
"Foul model and tsvile type" as the Eng
1ish press persists in calling our national
model the centerboard, it has not yet once on
one single separate occasion been information
ally beaten by British cutter.
It does certainly seem Enthusiastically
for the challenging Scotch syndicate after
wiring the challenge to send their selected
designer, Mr.. Watson, over here to spy out
the land. He is cordially received though
knowing his errand. He is shown everything
openly and freely, is entertained at the New
York Yacht club and is given access to their
model room; nor is anything that he wishes
to examine or to investigate concealed from
him or kept from his knowledge. After see-
ing all that he wishes he returns to his Office
and builds from memory a model of our
Mayfower that Mr.. Beavor Webb pronounces
correct enough. In due time Mr.. Borgess
asks Mr.. Watson to give him the mere water
line length of Thistle.
This bit of information is fatty refused.
The yacht is built under a shed
and is launched under canvas in Or
der that her precious lines may not
be exposed even to the whispering wind. Be-
fore the close of the present yachting season
it may be predicted that the entire Thistle
party will not look back with special pride
or satisfaction upon their shed with its
launching canvas flaps or upon their ostenta-
tious secrecy.
Let the New York Times reassure itself.
We still have our center boards and our Ed
ward Burgess. General Paine is always
to defend the cup intrusted to the nominal
care of the New York Yacht club, and the
"Volunteer" will be found present when the
roll is called F, W. F.